Shower bath means



Juiy 25, E g? 3, 3,332,991

SHOWER BATH MEANS Filed Jan. 18, 1965 12' I w /4' J INVENTOR. CLYDEGREER gum/QM AT T Y.

United States Patent 3,332,091 SHOWER BATH MEANS Clyde Greer, 20 MarySt., Rittman, Ohio 44270 Filed Jan. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 426,306 1 Claim.(Cl. 4-155) This invention relates to shower bath means and moreparticularly to portable means adapted for shower bathmg.

Camping facilities in national and state parks are utilized during thesummer months by a great number of vacationing families. Also a greatnumber of summer tourists travel by automobile and pitch a tent in whichthey sleep where a campsite may be available and still other touristssleep in their automobiles or trailers, many of the latter do not havebathing facilities. This type of touring and camping has great appeal tomany families and makes touring and camping possible to many familiesbecause it is inexpensive relative to cost of accommodations at motelsor hotels. Some like to camp beyond modern facilities and establishedcamps.

The millions that enjoy the type of vacationing just discussed areconfronted with the problem of bathing and a solution to the problem haslong been needed for the comfort, health and enjoyment of thoseparticipating in the type of touring mentioned.

Many of the large national and state camp sites provide shower bathfacilities but they are not adequate in a crowded camp. At the end ofthe day there is a standing line waiting for a turn at bathing. Manytourists, who otherwise find the camps very attractive, recoil atfollowing a line of bathers into the showers because of the lack ofsanitation and the health hazard.

It is an object of the present invention to provide portable shower bathmeans that is collapsible and occupies a minimum of space in anautomobile or automobile trunk and that can be easily and quicklyerected on any open ground available.

Another object of this invention is to provide privacy for the bather,and

A further object of the invention is to provide means for supplying aspray or stream of warm water to the bather.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the apparatus embodying the present inventionshown as assembled for use;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the shower curtain support means shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view of a stake plug.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing a hollow stake 10, having around chamber opening upwardly is adapted to be driven into the groundand to receive and anchor a jointed tubular shower curtain rod support11. To protect the upper edge of stake from dam-age by a heavy hammer,which may be used in driving the stake into the ground, applicant dropsa solid plug 9 of suitable size into the open end of stake 10 andremoves the plug after the stake has been driven.

The support 11 is preferably composed of hollow aluminum rod and has aplurality of telescoped sections as for example sections 12, 13, 14 and15. The top section 14 has rigidly attached thereto a section 15 of ajointed semi-circular hollow rod that receives telescopically asemi-circular section of rod 16 that corresponds to section 15. Thesections 15 and 16, when assembled, forming a circular support for ashower curtain 17 as will be seen by reference to FIG. 1.

It is to be understood that the sections 12, 13, 14 and 16 are retainedin telescopic relation by means of thumb screws 18.

Means for supplying warm water to a bather comprise a metal water tank18, having a lid 19, locked to the tank in bayonet fashion. The lid isprovided with a pressure gauge 20 and a safety valve 21. A propane torch22 is attached, if desired, to the tank in any suitable manner, with theflame directed to the bottom of the tank as illustrated. Water withinthe tank is subjected to air pressure by means of an automobile tirevalve 23 and a tire pump 24. A tank outlet 25 communicates with a lengthof garden hose 27 through valve 26. Hose 27 is of suflicient length toextend to and under curtain 17 and thence to near the top of curtainsupport 11 as will also be seen by reference to FIG. 1. A garden hosenozzle 28 is attached to the outlet end of the garden hose. Means forremovably supporting the hose on support 11 is provided at 29 and a soaptray at 30.

The operation of erecting and using the portable shower means is simple.First stake 10 is driven into the ground. Next support sections 12, 13and 14 are joined and retained assembled by thumb screws 18. Section 16is then joined to section 15 and held in place by a thumb screw 18. Thenext steps are placing the lower end of section 12 into the open end ofstake 10 ancl mounting shower curtain 17 as shown in the drawing. It isto be understood that the shower curtain is such as to permit someover-lapping of its ends but only enough to make it convenient for abather to enter the shower stall, defined by the curtain, and to insureprivacy while therein.

The tank is supplied with water from any source avail- :able and filledapproximately /8 full. With the lid locked in position the torch islighted and the water is heated to desired temperature. The water isthen placed under air pressure by means of the hand pump, the nozzle 28being in closed position. The bather opens the nozzle permitting thewarm water to spray or run over his body. Soap, washing and rinsing areconveniently done in the usual manner. Applicant has found that a tankof eight gallons capacity provides ample water for a cleansing andrefreshing bath, and, if all the water is to be used, additional pumpingmay be necessary. Such pumping may be done by another person than thebather or the pump may be located inside the shower curtain accessibleto the bather.

If two or more are to bathe at close intervals the ground may become toowet for a mat 31 to provide comfort for the bathers feet. In this casethe support 11 may be rotated in stake 10 so as to move the shower stallover dry ground.

It will be obvious that with the shower curtain over dry ground that theshower stall can double as a dressing room.

The invention contemplates various types of mats or flooring for theshower stall that may be found to be desirable. Also, it is to beunderstood that a collapsible auxiliary air tank may replace the handpump and such devices as now used as emergency means for inflating tiresmay also be substituted for the hand pump.

It will be manifest from the foregoing description of the invention anddiscussion that applicant has assembled the various elements of theapparatus in such combination as to produce a novel result that solves along standing problem of certain camping and touring.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained theprinciple of my invention and have illustrated and described what I nowconsider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have itunderstood that, within the scope of. the appended claim, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated anddescribed.

I claim:

Apparatus of the character described comprising:

(a) A single rigid support,

(b) means in the form of a stake adapted to retain said supportperpendicular and in removable relation thereto,

(c) said support being rotatable about its axis,

(d) a circular shower curtain support frame removably mounted on the topof the perpendicular support,

(e) a shower curtain adapted to define a shower stall suspended fromsaid frame,

(f) a water tank adjacent said stall, means adapted to heat water in thetank,

(g) a garden hose communicating with the water in the tank,

(h) said hose being provided with an adjustable outlet nozzle,

(i) hose support means mounted on said perpendicular support,

(j) the hose extending to and under the lower edge of the curtain andthence upwardly to said hose support means, and

(k) said hose support means being adapted to support the hose at aheight that retains the nozzle convenient for a bather to manipulate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LAVERNE D. GEIGER, PrimaryExaminer.

B. E. KILE, Assistant Examiner.

